During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety.

After the 9/11 attack, the media were seized with affection for Muslims and decided that, henceforth, no unkind word could be uttered about Islam. They were worried sick that al-Qaeda might get its hands on a nuke and destroy an American city, because that might lead to discrimination against Muslims.

What chiefly distinguishes the daily press is its incurable fear of ideas, its constant effort to evade the discussion of fundamentals by translating all issues into a few elemental fears, its incessant reduction of all reflection to mere emotion.